This is in honour of Old Magic because i love that book it rocks hope you all like it!

Memories

Chapter One: Kate

Hell! How on earth did I get here?

I'm stood on a beach in a cove I don't recognise. The beach is surrounded by sea. The waves roar in my ears. There is a forest on the edge of the beach. But to get to it I'd have to scramble over a rocks that line the beach about three feet from where I stand. It marks the highest point the sea has ever reached.

I am reluctant to do that, as I am barefoot. And even from where I am stood I can see that they are sharp. They'd cut my feet open in seconds. But every instinct I have is begging me to get off the beach. There is something here that is after me…

I can't see it but it doesn't make it any less real. There is something hunting for me. Get off the beach! My head is screaming at me! I glance around hoping to find some route of escape.

Just then a shadow passes over me and I instinctively duck. I can't help it the fear comes out of nowhere and I'm terrified. I look up the sky is cloudless and the sun is bright. It would be a beautiful day but for this feeling I have inside me. I know enough to know that I should trust my instincts but my legs seem to be frozen.

I can't move, icy terror such as I have never known has taken hold the shadow of an eagle passes over me and dives head first, plunging into the icy water and seconds later exploded with a fish in its beak.

Suddenly I can't breathe. That fish, I am certain though I am not sure how, was meant to be me. I NEED TO GET OFF THIS COVE! I NEED TO GET OFF THIS BEACH. I look around frantically looking for some way of escape.

I hesitate for a moment. Only a moment and then obey every instinct that has been screaming at me and run. I run and the wind whips my face my long hair getting in my way. I feel the sharp stones cut into my feet just as I had feared. But at this moment I really don't care.

The terror has made everything but running seem inferior. I ran straight for the trees and crashed through them. The braches whipped my face and I felt one bite and the blood dripped down my face.

I came to a clearing almost immediately and stopped to catch my breath. Then I felt it.

Magic.

I could also hear the faint chant of a spell. I head towards it, if I can get there maybe I can be safe and I can get out of whatever god forsaken place this is.

But then I feel my legs go dead and I know the spell is being cast against me not to help me.

I feel sick. It is the effects of he spell it's making me feel ill. Why would anyone want to cast a spell against me?

This can't be happening.

But it is.

I can feel it. I feel the bile rising in my throat. My nose starts to bleed as the black energy engulfs me.

I try to scream but I can't.

Why is this happening to me?

I collapse to my knees the sheer weight of the spell almost knocking me unconsciousness. I fight to get across the clearing on my knees I pull back the trees and I can see someone call up the spell but I can't see their face.

There back is to me. I can't see my attacker.

Then the spell makes my chest feel like its about to explode and I scream and black out.

The Church Square is silent hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are there silently watching with hard staring eyes. Those same people watch as chained and imprisoned with no hope of rescue I am lead to the centre of the square and my guards that show no emotion in their eyes.

I cannot appeal to them their eyes grim and dull tell me everything I need to know. they have seen death before and I just another nameless person that has been convicted of the biggest offence there is.

I don't want to die!

I want someone to tell me this is a lie!

Someone to speak up for me.

But I know this is hopeless.

I am a wanted criminal and there is a prize on my head. It is a lot of money and times are hard. No citizen will listen to my cries of innocence when everyone else tells them I am guilty. They believe those with authority because they are always right.

I know now that I will die on this day and in this hour. But I want justice for my death. I want them to pay.

I know I will die. I am lead to the stake and they tie me with bonds so tight they make my wrists sore and ache.

Witnesses were called at my trial. But a trial it was not. It was a mockery of me. It made me feel dirty. They swore on the name of the Bible that I had done them harm when they and I know this is not the case.

They swore I lived to maim and harm using words known only to the Devil and all other Underworld upheaval. It does not matter that it is the biggest nonsense I have ever heard.

No one listens to the guilty.

But I know it's not the case. As do all those intent on killing me.

But I was dead from the first claim. These people love bloodshed they long for it. My death will be the spectacle of the week talked about for months. I am dying for their entertainment.

God if your up there you have a sick sense of humour.

I look up into the cool grey eyes of the executioner. He can't wait for the moment to come. He has waited for years. "Choose me or the fire!" I spit in his face I can't stand to look at him. I'd rather die on this pyre than give myself to him.

He turns to the crowd and says, "The witch has refused to repent…" the rest of the words are lost in the roar of the crowd. There is a roaring in my ears and my heart is currently residing in my throat.

I've never known terror like this.

The words are lost to me. All but one sentence. "I'm sending her back to hell where she belongs!"

Everything seems to move in slow motion the kindling catches fire and the flames shoot up dancing around my feet, so close to my body I feel the heat.

The smoke is thick and I cough as it engulfs me. The flames climb higher and I know my time is nearly over. There is someone screaming and I realise its me, I am the one that's screaming, screaming as my legs are engulfed in flame.

The pain is unbearable. It's pain beyond endurance.

That is how I now I'm dying. I had hoped for a miracle but now I see there is no one coming for me.

My attacker will get away and I will die for her crimes

Distantly I hear a bell and realise that will be the last sound I ever hear.

I am dying to the sound of a bell. I scream and I know I'm being sent straight to hell…

I bolt awake. Tear tracks run down my face. My long dark hair is like a rope around my neck. I pull myself free of my tangled sheets I'm sweating more than I ever thought I could.

The terror is still with me and I do the first thing that comes into my head.

JARROD!

I Scream though my thoughts

Jarrod! Please come I need you

I don't know why I'm so scared. But I know I need him so I wait and sure enough. Hold on Kate I'm coming his voice echoed in my head only seconds after I sent the message.

Had Jillian, my grandmother, been in she would have heard my distress but she had gone to a healers gathering that happened only once a year with a friend.

I hadn't wanted to go but I told her to go ahead. Now I wished I had gone with her.

And suddenly I could stay in the house I got dressed and flew down the stairs opened the door and leaped down all four steps and cleared the dirt drive way and then took off into the woods.

Jarrod was nearby I could feel him. His senses were extended and he felt my change of direction.

I went to the clearing where we had made the journey into his past. I could hardly believe that had only been last night.

We were going to Ryan's party tomorrow or even today after all it was stupid o clock in the morning and for me that was the biggest deal ever. Jarrod I knew couldn't care a less. He had said he was going with me and to him that was it.

To me it was the biggest statement he could have ever made. It proved he wasn't going to let everything go back to normal and forget all about me.

It proved he cared about me and valued my company and friendship.

Tasha, Pecks and Ryan hadn't seen it that way. They had been astounded that he would choose someone else over Tasha but to choose me was unthinkable. But Jarrod was adamant.

So tomorrow if not anything else should be interesting.

At that moment Jarrod came crashing through the trees. "Kate!" His voice conveyed all sorts of emotions all at once and it reminded me of that day when I had returned to the Keep to tell him I was remaining with Ranuk.

He ran over to me and pulled me into his arms. "What the hell are you doing out here?" Before I could stop myself I burst into tears.

Then I felt mortified. I felt Jarrod tense. I knew this must be scaring him. I'm never like this but I can't help myself.

I was so scared. And the terror just wouldn't leave me. I could still feel it in every fibre of my being. "Kate what is it?" Jarrod said urgently. Then I felt stupid what if he didn't believe me or understand me?

But now I was here it came tumbling out of my mouth and I couldn't stop myself. Jarrod was quiet while I babbled about this dream and I felt some of the black fear leave me.

Jarrod was here.

I was safe.

I was ok.

Jarrod listened and then when I finished he hugged me to him. He was frowning I could see he was frowning even in the dark. His arms became tighter and he looked down at me.

"Have you spoken to Jillian about this Kate? It doesn't sound like any ordinary dream. Especially since you felt what she felt."

That was another reason I was so scared I had literally felt the flames licking my skin, burning my legs. I had tasted the smoke in my mouth smelt burning flesh and known instinctively it was my own.

It is never something I ever want to have to go through ever again. "Jillian's at the healers conference remember?" I said gently. "I remember." Jarrod said. "I'll come back with you." "What about your mum?" I asked. "Mum is at the hospital." My heart stopped had I missed something?

I thought his dad was getting better.

Jarrod must have seen my expression. "Dad is fine mum just chose to be with him tonight since Casey is staying out." I breathed a sigh of relief. Then his eyes twinkled.

"You want me to sleep down stairs?" I coloured. Jarrod and I had pretended to be a married couple when we went back in time to conquer the sorcerer that had put a curse on Jarrod's family.

AKA Ranuk.

So as a result Jarrod had had to share a bedroom and a bed. The last time that had happened we'd ended up kissing.

"No." I said when I finally found my voice. "I trust you." He smiled. "That means a lot Kate."

He led me back home and we pulled out the spare bed and he slept in my room. Or rather he was there for me and when I got scared all over again he climbed into bed beside me and cuddled me.

I fell asleep on his chest.

A miracle, 1, since I'd never sleep again and 2, I was so conscious of Jarrod I thought my pulse would skitter out my throat. But I survived and Jarrod was none the wiser.

Thank god.